VERNACULAR BOATS AND BOATBUILDING IN GREECE : VOL. 1 Kostas Damianidis A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of St Andrews 1991 Full metadata for this item is available in Research@StAndrews:FullText at: http://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/ Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10023/7116 This item is protected by original copyright VERNACULAR BOATS AND BOATBUILDING IN GREECE Kostas Damianidis VOLUME I A thesis submitted to the University of St. Andrews for the Degree of Ph.D. 1989 CA M11v Ac This work presents a study of the vernacular boats of modern Greece. A new typology of boats is offered, and an account is given of tools and boatyard practice, design and construction techniques. Evidence for these subjects is drawn from field surveys, museum collections, iconographic studies, and interviews with old boatbuilders. Although most of the information presented comes from the first half of the 20th century, background information from the 18th and 19th centuries is also covered. This longer historical perspective is particularly important in making comparisons between 20th century practices and the boatbuilding techniques of the past. There is evidence for the existence of two main periods of technical change in the industry, namely, the late 18th century, when new methods such as lofting were introduced, and the late 19th century, when changes in the wider shipbuilding industry initiated a process of decline in vernacular boatbuilding. At the same time however, a number of older techniques, for example certain moulding methods, survived at least into the first part of the 20th century. This work offers new insights into the design methods involved in the control of hull-form during "skeleton- first" boatbuilding from the last two hundred years. It also offers an analysis of the structural integrity and strength of vernacular boats and shows how the structure of boats has evolved across time to incorporate new techniques and changes in boat function. Declarations I, Kostas Damianidis, hereby ceaify that this thesis, which is approximately 95,000 words in length, has been written by me, that it is the record of work carried out by me and that it has not been ubmitted in any previous application for a higher degree. 22nd December 1989 I was admitted as a research student under Ordinance No. 12 in October 1985 and as candidate for the degree of Ph.D. in October 1985; the higher degree for which this is a record was carried out in the University of St. Andrews bctwecn 1985 and 1989. 22nd December 1989 In submitting this thesis to the University of St. Andrews I understand that I am giving permission for it to be made available for use in accordance with the regulations of the University Library for the time being in force, subject to any copyright vested in the work not being affected thereby. I also understand that the title and abstract will be published, and that a copy of the work may be made and supplied to any bone fide library or research worker. 22nd December 1989 I hereby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the Resolution and Regulations appropriate for the degree of Ph.D. in the University of St. Andrews and that the candidate is qualified to submit this thesis in application for that degree. 22nd December 1989 Acknowledgments I wish to thank the following: The University of St. Andrews for financial support. My supervisor Robert Prescott for advice and encouragement. Jim Allen, for producing the photographical plates. Richard Barker, who let me use some unpublished material. My friends Maria Kolozi, Mike Robertson, Dimitris Bairaktaris and, especially, Erk Kanis, for assistance in editing and typing the text. Finally I would like to recored my gratitude to all the boatbuilders interviewed whose patient cooperation during fieldwork made this work possible. Guide to phonetic transcriptions of Greek Names and vernacular terms occuring in the text. a a b y g 5 d E e C z lii e th I. j i( k A 1 Ii m u n b V n VT d E x 0 0 n p p r a s T t U y q ph y ch q ps G) 0 VOLUME I a- INTROUCTION.1 1. HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION....................13 1.1 First period (18th century to 1830) ........13 1.2 Second period (1830 to 1880) ...............21 1.3 Third period (1880 to 1940's) ..............26 1.4 Location of boatyards......................31 1.5 Aspects of the working environment.........33 2. CLASSIFICATION.............................41 2.1 Typology of hulls..........................43 2.2 Double ended vessels.......................46 2.3 Vessels with a transom stern...............57 2.4 Vessels with a round stern pointed on the stern post..................63 2.5 Vessels with a counter stern...............64 2.6 Sails......................................66 2.7 Early types................................84 2.8 Comments on classification.................89 3. MORPHOLOGY.................................95 3.1 The influence of function..................96 3.2 Propulsion and ballast....................103 3.3 The concept of fair lines .................105 3.4 Geographical relationships................113 4. TOOLS.....................................117 4.1 Classification of tools ...................118 4.2 Splitting - Cleaving - Cutting............120 4.3 Measuring - Marking - Moulding - Lofting. .125 4.4 Holding - Grasping........................130 4.5 Boring....................................132 4.6 Hammering.................................133 4.7 Hewing....................................134 4.8 Smoothing.................................136 4.9 Caulking.................................. 140 4.10 Comments on tools .........................146 5. DESIGNING..................................155 5.1 Fundamental dimensions....................156 5.2 Moulding methods ..........................180 5.3 Lofting methods...........................208 5.4 Comments on the evolution of the designing methods..................221 6. BOATBUILDING TIMBER.......................231 6.1 Kinds of boatbuilding timber..............233 6.2 Properties of boatbuilding timber.........242 7. CONSTRUCTION..............................255 7.1 Preparation...............................255 7.2 Keel, stem and stern post.................257 7.3 Framingup...............................265 7.4 Reinforcement of the skeleton ............274 7.5 Planking .285 7.6 Caulking . 300 7.7 Comments on construction..................304 8. CONCLUDING REMARKS........................311 9. BIBLIOGRAPHY..............................319 VOLUME II Figures Summaries of interviews 1 NRODjOi Traditional shipbuilding in modern Greece has been studied sporadicaly by native and foreign scholars (Basch ,L. (1972), Damianidis,K. & Zivas,A (1986), Denham,H.M. (1986), Heidelberg,P.K. (1985), Kladou-Bletsa (1983), Poulianos,A.I. (1977), Throckmorton,P. (1964), Tzaintzis,A.I. (1972), Vichos,I. (n.d.), Zouroudis,G.I. (1974)). A more systematic study was undertaken by Adoniou , A. (1969) for his doctoral thesis. As a naval architect, he focused on the formal properties of the traditional designs of vessels. The main intention of his work was to compare these properties with international standards of naval architecture. At the same time, he suggested a few structural improvements to meet the modern demands of boatbuilding. By contrast, the main intention of the present work is to describe evolution of the traditional boatbuilding techniques. The last three centuries will be the period of our study although the main bulk of the technical evidence has been provided by sources from the 20th century (interviews). Our knowledge of boatbuilding techniques in the Aegean prior to the late 18th century is severely limited. Direct historical and archaeological studies tell us very little about the process of building boats. The studies which are mentioned above provide some evidence about early techniques which have survived in Greece up to the second half of this century. Briefly, we can note here the "master frame and ribbands" method (Pouliarios ,A. (1977), Basch,L. (1972)), moulding with adjustable templates (Heidelberg,P.K. (1985), Damianidis,K & Zivas,A. (1986)), careening (Zouroudis,G.I. (1974, pp.169-?O) and some other elements in the building process (Zouroudis,G.I. (1974), Poulianos ,A. (1977)). Also, until recent times, hand tools were extensivly used in some boatyards ([10}-Binos, [12]-Kozonis, Poulianos,A.I. (1977)). 2 We do not know exactly how old are most of these techniques. Comparing this material with the scant historical and archaeological evidence about boatbuilding in the area from the 11th century onwards, we can certainly see some conunon features. But some extravagant claims have been made by scholars about the historical origin of these surviving techniques without adequate evidence (Thorckmorton,P. (1964), Denhain,H.M. (1986), Vichos,I. (n.d.)). However, analysing the material in the present work we can more clearly recognize influences from modern techniques and adaptations of the old ways to modern demands. All the available sources suggest that the bulk of these changes occu&d during the last three centuries. A technical approach to the subject during this period can cast some light on the evolution of these techniques in modern Greece. And, because of our limited knowledge about most of the early boatbuilding techniques, an understanding of the evolution of this modern Greek tradition becomes particularly valuable. Part of the significance of the present study of technical methods